Calling people ugly names is generally a bad idea.

I tweeted something yesterday that needs clarification.

Will attach in the next tweet . . .

1/ https://twitter.com/alexwritesloud/status/1305339440349536257

Here's what I said:

I don't recall saying "welcome" or "open arms," but I don't think that name calling is appropriate, particularly when someone is trying to make amends.

Democracy requires something call the public sphere. https://twitter.com/Teri_Kanefield/status/1304874374336372737

The public sphere is where ideas are discussed. In the old days, it was a part of town where (men) gathered to talk politics.

Now it's probably on the Internet.

I also talked about the need to listen sympathetically to a person's story . . . https://twitter.com/Teri_Kanefield/status/1304877759018098688

. . . when that person is apologizing, admitting he was wrong, and trying to make amends.

I was a bit surprised at the venom directed against Michael Cohen. Yeah, he did bad things, but he testified under oath truthfully, cooperated with Mueller, and went to jail.

I just think it's a bad idea to call a person ugly names after that person has testifies under oath, cooperated with authorities, and served time (Mueller found his testimony credible.)

I'll go farther: Calling ugly names is not a good idea in general . . .

. . . if we want democracy to work. Democracy means government by the people. That means us. That means we should act like responsible leaders.

Responsible leaders don't call people ugly names :)

We all lose our tempers, but we should try to leave name calling out of it.

People are saying he was "likely" not truthful.

Be careful. Don't make accusations without evidence or we're as bad as the other side.

I listened to his testimony and I'm about 80% of the way through his book. . .

. . . and Mueller did find him credible.

This doesn't mean I endorse him as a person or overlook the past. He did what he did.

If you have evidence he lied under oath or in his book, that's one thing.

But everything he has said since he flipped on Trump seems credible to me.